Navy launches Operation Madad

ISLAMABAD (APP) All assets of Pakistan Navy have been made safe and secured in case the cyclone 'Phet hits the coastal areas of Karachi and parts of Balochistan, Deputy Chief of Naval Staff (Operations) Vice Admiral Abass Raza said here on Thursday. All the assets of Pakistan Navy are safe and necessary precautionary measures have been taken to ensure their safety in case cyclone Phet hits the coastal areas of country, he said while addressing a Press conference here. Entire units of PN have been put on high alert and made ready to meet any eventuality, as a precautionary measure in the aftermath of the cyclone, which has already started striking the coast of Oman, he said. Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Nauman Bashir, he said has been personally supervising the Operation 'Madad which has especially been chalked out for the relief. Rescue of the civilian population settled along the coastal belt where the storm can hit, in case it diverts towards Pakistani coasts from Omani coast. He said the helicopters of Pakistan Navy have been in the deep sea and the Creeks area to warn the fishermen, who are on the fishing spree, asking them to immediately return to the harbours. He said that the naval units along the coastal areas have been equipped with the necessary relief and medical aid goods in ample quantity. Answering a question he said that no additional funds have been sought from the government for carrying out relief and rescue arrangements. We are carrying out this work as part of our duty and we do not need any additional funding, he said. Giving details about the safety of the PN assets, he said that all the ships have been sent to the deep sea as part of the Standing Order Procedures during such times. The aeroplane have been sent to the safer places while the under repair assets are already in their respective pens, he added. In reply to a question he said the PN is already in direct contact with various agencies and government department like National Disaster Management Authority, local civil administrations, Fishing Department and sister forces for carrying the Operation 'Madad in effective manner. When his comments were sought about the possible assistance to the commercial ship by the PN, he said these ships are having much effective and modern navigation system and in such conditions these carry out various standing procedures to avert any such situation. However, he said Pakistan Navy is ready to provide help if there is any eventuality or untoward happening. He said that PN has been closely monitoring weather and cyclone reports of Pakistan Met Office and analytical reports are being made very frequently for keeping round the clock vigil on situation of the cyclone. Commenting on the fall out of the cyclone, he said, it can, to the maximum cause rainfall and dusty winds up to 30 to 35 nautical miles speed. While the population settled in the low lying areas along the coast had already been warned about the situation and in case of flooding they would be shifted to the safer places. He said on Thursday, 14 families who were marooned in the floods due to high tides have been evacuated and shifted to safer places in PN helicopters. Director Public Relation Captain Mobin Ashraf Bajwa and other senior officer of PN were also present in the press conference.